WEDNESDAY EDITION: I guess its time to pull
the boat out this week and put it to bed for the winter, I can't
believe the summer is history....I ordered a Zumspot from HRO
yesterday for my truck. I will shoot some pictures of the assembly
and testing. I have the Openspot2 in the house running Fusion and a
cheap Chinese one on DMR mode for comparison......
Well-Known Yukon Ham J Allen, VY1JA, is Stepping Away from Amateur
Radio
ARRL
Well-known Canadian radio amateur J Allen, VY1JA, of
Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, has announced that he’s retiring
from ham radio, citing long-term health issues and hearing loss.
The familiar VY1JA call sign also has been retired. Allen will
begin dismantling his station and antennas as early as this
weekend. His last contact was with KA4UPI on September 14. He
has uploaded his logs to Logbook of The World (LoTW) and sent
copies to his QSL managers.
“After approximately 30 years of operation and over 110,000
contacts, the station VY1JA has gone QRT for operator health
reasons effective 2019-09-14,” Allen said on his
QRZ.com
profile. “All gear and antennas are for sale.”
For years, VY1JA was an eagerly sought-after multiplier in
the ARRL November Sweepstakes and other events, as well as a
needed zone in DX contests. In recent years, as Allen has begun
to step away from regular on-the-air appearances, his station
has been operated remotely as VY1AAA by a team of
Canadian-licensed operators located in the US. Allen said VY1AAA
operation would cease on September 22.
Gerry Hull, W1VE/VE1RM, who has coordinated VY1AAA
operations, told ARRL that he’s been searching over the past 6
months for another Northern Territories station that would be
willing to host remote operation.
“The VY1AAA team is greatly saddened by this turn of events,”
Hull said. “Hams around the world will surely miss J and the
VY1AAA team on the bands. J has been an incredible friend and
mentor. Now it is time for us to help him off the air.” Hull
said that over the past 4 years, the remotely operated station
has logged more than 35,000 contacts, and QSL requests will
continue to be honored. He invited inquiries
via email.
Allen thanked Hull for “his tireless efforts to keep
YT/NT/VY1 on the air throughout the years of his operation and
direction of remote operations.”
Hull said he will lead a final push to make contacts this
week as VY1AAA, before Allen dismantles his station. He expects
to be on the air in the evening hours this week and on Saturday,
if possible, mostly on 20 meters, CW, and SSB.
Hull said Geoffrey Burns, NE3K, will be the new QSL Manager
for VY1AAA, XO1X, and XK150YUKON.
Hurricane Watch Net Announces Tentative Activation Plans
ARRLThe Hurricane Watch Net (HWN)
has announced tentative plans to activate on 14.325 MHz on
Wednesday, September 18, at 1800 UTC. The net will switch to
7.268 MHz at 2100 UTC on Wednesday.
“Today has been a busy day in the tropics,” Net Manager Bobby
Graves, KB5HAV, said. “Since 1500 UTC, four new systems have
been identified — two already named. At present, the storm we
are most interested in is Hurricane Humberto.” The Category 2
Atlantic storm is forecast to affect Bermuda late Wednesday
evening or early Thursday morning, with the eye forecast to
remain north of Bermuda. Graves said any deviation to the right
of the forecast track could bring the eye closer or even
onshore.
The Hurricane Watch Net will remain active on 14.325 MHz for
as long as propagation allows, switching to 7.268.00 MHz at 2100
UTC and remaining in operation until Humberto is no longer a
threat.
“This activation plan is subject to change,” Graves advised.
“As with any net activation, we request observed ground-truth
data from those in the affected area (wind speed, wind gust,
wind direction, barometric pressure — if available, rainfall,
damage, and storm surge). Measured weather data is always
appreciated but we do accept estimates.”
Graves said other Atlantic storms include Tropical Depression
(TD) 10 and Tropical Storm (TS) Imelda, while on the Eastern
Pacific side are TD 14-E, TS Lorena, and the Category 1
Hurricane Kiko.
A Tale of Watts and the Pursuit of DX
on 20 and 40 Meters
Bob Houf, K7ZB
As we sit here today at the beginning of summer in 2019, we
ponder the lack of sun spots in the solar cycle and what it
means to our favorite bands.
Long gone are the days when 10 meters was wide open and you
could work the world on 10 watts and a dipole. If you were there
in 1959 you know what I mean.
I came into the amateur radio world in the summer of 1963 as
a tenderfoot Novice class ham and I had the privilege of knowing
our small town bank president, Cornell Hunter, W8UVB, who had
operated exclusively 10 meter AM phone during that sunspot
cycle, the granddaddy of them all.
His war surplus ART-13 Collins transmitter coupled to a
simple 3-element Yagi on a short tripod tower on the top of the
third floor of his old Victorian house on High Street allowed
him to work the world on 10 meters.
As a kid I would visit his shack every Saturday morning to
exchange one copy of QST for another and with goggle-eyes roam
all over the wallpaper on the shack walls.
He had QSL cards from the most exotic places in the world on
those walls and I would stay awake late at night reading “How’s
DX?” in QST - long after my parents thought I was fast asleep -
and dream of talking to hams like Cornell had done.
It would be a few years before I could begin to work DX
during the next sun spot cycles – always just running a hundred
to two hundred watts at most into basic antennas like dipoles
and Delta Loops at modest heights.
Eventually we moved to Arizona and bought a home with a
rather restrictive Home Owner’s Association and I was challenged
with a way to chase DX and keep peace in the neighborhood.
I solved that problem with two stealth verticals - one that
covered 40 meters and another for 20-10 meters and wrote about
these on my blog years ago. the blog is now gone but the antenna
designs are still alive on the web.
The 40 meter stealth vertical is described in great detail
and has been preserved by an Italian ham now that my website is
gone and you can examine it here:
http://www.iw5edi.com/ham-radio/48/the-40-meter-stealth-vertical
The 20 – 10 meter vertical was mounted near the 40 meter
vertical and also able to be removed easily making it very
unobtrusive and it is shown here:
http://www.iw5edi.com/ham-radio/46/an-effective-10-20m-dx-antenna-for-deed-restricted-lots
Both of these verticals were elevated off the ground on a
second floor deck with the base approximately 12’ above ground
with 2 elevated radials for each antenna and both were very
inexpensive and highly effective.
The DX performance for the antennas was remarkable during
sunspot cycle 23 even running just 100 watts from my
transceiver.
But I often would have to spend hours chasing DXpeditions or
other rare stations before I would make the contact.
If I hit the band conditions just right – like the late
afternoon in Phoenix when I made a single call to a 4S7 in Sri
Lanka or the early morning long path contact with the A6 in the
Middle East – my 100 watts would work fine.
But I often thought – what would it be like to chase DX if I
had just a few more dB to the antenna?
One day at lunch during the work week a couple of ham
colleagues and I drove over to the HRO store in Phoenix and
ogled all of the new gear.
There on the table of used gear was a pristine desk-top
linear amplifier. An LA-1000-NT which was a no-tune, 120VAC
internal power supply amp of small size and the owner would part
for it for a mere $120.
I picked that amp up and brought it home, just like the stray
lost puppies our oldest son would bring home and we would adopt.
It wasn’t long before I had the amp and a suitable antenna
coupler hooked up and I was able to start a new life – running
500 to 600 Watts output. Amazing!
Right there, snug on my operating table, that little gray box
was making those 4 sweep tubes hum with SSB and CW while I
operated from 40 to 10 meters on the verticals.
All of a sudden I was breaking pile-ups on the first call!
The low angle radiation off the verticals – despite the poor
ground conductivity of the Sonoran Desert and surrounding city –
plus 600 Watts out made a dramatic difference on my DX success
rate.
My country totals began to soar.
Why, that nifty little amp even worked well down on 160
meters and with a friend of mine, AB7E, we operated the CQ 160
Meter DX Contest and worked every state twice and a bunch of DX.
I wrote that contest up and published an article on it in CQ
Magazine in the January 2015 issue.
What a difference another 500 watts makes – especially when
the bands begin to fade with the low part of the sunspot cycle.
When 20 meters is not cooperating, usually 40, 80 or 160
meters will be.
With a few good antennas and 500 to 600 Watts you can write
your own ticket for chasing DX.
Nowadays it is probably unlikely you will come across an old
LA-1000-NT amp for a hundred bucks, but you can still pick up a
nice 600 Watt amp that uses 811A’s for a fair price and get in
the game.
My little desktop amp finally gave up the ghost when I
inadvertently ran it into the vertical with a very high SWR.
By then we had moved to Michigan and rather than replace the
expensive old sweep tubes in the ‘1000-NT I handed it off to a
friend and then got myself an AL-80B.
Now I had a much bigger tube – the venerable 3-500Z and I had
220VAC run to my operating position to power the amp.
I ran it on 40 meters for a few years and enjoyed the step up
from 100 to 800 Watts output.
There isn’t a hill of beans difference at the receiving end
when someone hears me running 600 or 800 Watts output, but there
IS a difference when you jump from 100 to 600 Watts out.
So when the sunspots are low and the bands need a bit of,
shall we say, stimulation – why not step up to an amp that gives
you a few dB of gain and a lot of opportunity to be heard?
Couple that with a few good antennas and you can enjoy an
entirely different way of operating amateur radio in the sunspot
doldrums.
TUESDAY EDITION: Sunny start....Touring an
open
Radio Shack....nothing big or interesting going on in ham radio
......RIP to the fireman lost in Farmington, Maine in a huge propane
explosion.....
Report: North Korea Testing Digital Broadcasting on 80 Meters
ARRLRadio World
reports that the People’s Democratic
Republic of Korea (North Korea) has resumed testing digital
radio broadcasting on the 80-meter amateur band after a 2-year
absence. North Korea is transmitting with the Digital Radio
Mondiale (DRM)
protocol. The latest transmissions on 3.560 MHz began in
mid-August.
“It appears unclear at this time, however, whether the
current series of transmissions will soon end or be the start of
a regular service,” Radio World said. “According to
radio enthusiasts in the region, the signal has been clear and
very audible.”
Radio World says Voice of Korea, the North Korean
international broadcasting service, has conducted DRM trials off
and on since 2012.
MONDAY EDITION: The NE Patriots defense is
more impressive than their offense....and that isn't bad either...I
stopped by and met Dan- KB1PGH portable operating on a hill in
Rockport before the game. He uses a dipole and an Icom 7300 and was
reeling in the contacts over the pond. Locaated 150 feet above sea
level and 1/4 mile from the ocean does the trick every time....WTF
is an emotional
support monkey?......
WWV and WWVH to Broadcast Defense Department WWV Centennial
Greeting, Special Event Reminder
ARRLStarting on Monday, September
16, WWV and WWVH will broadcast a US Department of Defense
message to mark the centennial of WWV and to announce the
WW0WWV special event
from September 28 until October 2 at the WWV transmitter site
near Fort Collins, Colorado. The DoD message transmissions will
air until October 1.
Kevin Utter, N7GES, a member of the WW0WWV Centennial
Committee, recorded the audio track for the announcement. Utter
has been an integral part of the Committee and is a highly
respected member of the Northern Colorado Amateur Radio
community. — Thanks to Paul English, WD8DBY
Nine Schools and Organizations Make the Cut for Ham Contacts
with ISS Crew
ARRLAmateur Radio on the
International Space Station (ARISS)
has announced that nine schools and organizations have been
selected to host Amateur Radio contacts with International Space
Station crew members during the first half of 2020. The selected
host organizations must now complete equipment plans that
demonstrate their ability to execute the ham radio contact. Once
a plan is approved, the final selected schools/organizations
will have contacts scheduled as their availability matches up
with the opportunities offered by NASA.
The schools and host organizations are: Celia Hays Elementary
School, Rockwall, Texas; Golden Gate Middle School, Naples,
Florida; J.P. McConnell Middle School, Loganville, Georgia;
Kittredge Magnet School, Atlanta, Georgia; Maple Dale Elementary
School, Cincinnati, Ohio; Monroe Carrell Jr. Children’s Hospital
at Vanderbilt, Nashville, Tennessee; Oakwood School, Morgan
Hill, California; Ramona Lutheran School, Ramona, California,
and River Ridge High School, New Port Richey Florida.
The primary goal of the ARISS program is to engage young
people in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math
(STEAM) activities and raise their awareness of space
communication, radio communication, space exploration, and
related areas of study and career possibilities.
SUNDAY EDITION I am back, a few trips up north
I needed to get some business in order and splash some vacation time
in with it. ..NE Patriots today, should be interesting to watch
Antonio play....
QSO Today - Burt Fisher - K1OIK
 Burt
Fisher, K1OIK, raised a stir and perhaps the ire of
many hams with a 2008 YouTube video critical of amateur radio
operators and their operating practices.
While it is easy these days to have conversations with anyone
who shares our opinions and beliefs, it is more difficult to
have conversations with people who do not share our views.
K1OIK tells his ham radio story and shares his opinions that
led to the controversial video and the rest of the story in this
QSO Today.
Listen to podcast
Montana's Dept of Justice to issue 200 ham radios
The Havre Daily News reports Montana's Havre and Hill
County Local Emergency Planning Committee intend to take up
a Department of Justice offer of amateur radio equipment
The newspaper says:
The Havre and Hill County Local Emergency Planning Committee
Tuesday passed a motion to allow Hill County Health
Department Public Health Nurse Bridget Kallenberger to look
into getting the emergency operation center, located in the
Hill County Detention Center, a handheld ham radio.
“I think it would be a good addition, something good to
have on hand,” committee Chair Sheriff Jamie Ross said.
The item, which was not on the meeting agenda, was approved
unanimously by the committee.
Kallenberger said before the vote that the state Department
of Justice has 200 handheld ham radios it is going to give
out to different entities across the state, and she thought
it would be a good addition to the emergency operation
center.
She added that if the committee wanted one they would need
an antenna and possibly a second power source to power the
radio as well as a ham radio operator. She said that the
Department of Justice is offering the radios with no strings
attached.
Ross said that a number of the Hill County Search and
Rescue members are certified ham radio operators and also
have their own equipment.
Hill County Commissioner Mike Wendland said it would be a
good addition to the emergency operations center because ham
radios are reliable and useful in an emergency situation.
Read the full story at
https://www.havredailynews
.com/story/2019/09/11/local/local-emergency-planning-committee-picking-up-a-ham-radio/525335.html
FCC Seeks to Streamline its Hearings Process
ARRL: The FCC is asking for public comments on procedural
changes that, if adopted, would streamline many administrative
hearings under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.
“Currently, these hearings typically are conducted like trials
in civil litigation and include, among other things, live
testimony before an administrative law judge, cross-examination
of witnesses, and an initial decision by the administrative law
judge that is subject to review by the Commission,” the FCC said
in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)
in EB Docket 19-214. The FCC said its proposals “are designed to
supplement the Commission’s current administrative law judge
referral process and promote more efficient resolution of
hearings.”
If adopted, the proposals would:
- Codify and expand the use of a process that would rely
on written testimony and documentary evidence in lieu of
live testimony and cross-examination.
- Enable Commission staff to act as a case manager that
would supervise development of the written hearing record
when the Commission designates itself as the presiding
officer at a hearing.
- Dispense with the preparation of an intermediate
opinion, whenever the record of a proceeding can be
certified to the Commission for final decision.
According to the FCC, the proposed procedures would expedite
its hearing processes, consistent with the requirements of the
Communications Act and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA)
while ensuring transparency and procedural fairness.
The FCC’s current hearing rules provide that “any hearing
upon an application shall be a full hearing in which the
applicant and all other parties in interest shall be permitted
to participate.” The FCC noted that it has, on numerous
occasions, curtailed the use of oral testimony and
cross-examination in particular proceedings, in order to
expedite the hearing process.
“In our experience, disputes in Commission proceedings
typically involve criticisms by one party of the evidence
proffered by another party or the legal significance of that
evidence, not actual conflicts in testimony between two
witnesses concerning outcome-determinative facts,” the FCC said.
“We contemplate codifying and expanding the use of a written
hearing process that can be used in most adjudicative
proceedings, including those conducted by an administrative law
judge. In particular, we propose to authorize the presiding
officer to conduct a written hearing whenever factual disputes
can be adequately resolved on a written record.”
Among other proposed changes, the FCC would prohibit staff
members who have taken an active part in investigating,
prosecuting, or advocating in a case from serving as a case
manager and from advising or assisting the case manager in the
same case.
Amateur Radio Is There When All Else Fails
Jefferson Public Radio (JPR) interviews Joe Bassett
W1WCN and Steve Bosbach KW5V about the
role of amateur radio in a natural disaster
JPR, which covers Southern Oregon and Northern California, say:
Our communications systems may seem robust, but past disasters
have shown this isn’t the case. Amateur radio groups around the
country, and even in the [proposed] State of Jefferson,
are there to fill the gaps.
Imagine there’s been a natural disaster in your area. You’ve
lost power, it’s impossible to get in your car and drive
somewhere safe, and most importantly, the cell towers are down.
How will you get in contact with friends and family to tell them
you’re alright? That’s where amateur radio operators come in.
“In Puerto Rico back in Maria, amateur radio became, in a
military analogy, the light infantry. We could get into a
community, establish communication and at least get some
information travelling out of that location,” says Joe Bassett,
a ham radio operator.
The Jackson County Amateur Radio Emergency Service, or JC ARES,
practices their radio skills weekly to prepare for the next time
disaster strikes. The group’s Steve Bosbach says lots of people
get involved with amateur radio for the fun of it, but end up
finding ways to help their community.
Read the full story and listen to the interview at
https://www.ijpr.org/post/amateur-radio-there-when-all-else-fails
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 2185 for Friday September 13th,
2019
Amateur Radio Newsline Report Number 2185 with a release date of
Friday, September 13th 2019 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. A YL celebrates a record-setting sail. A
rare grid activation - by satellite! - and radio is the safety
net for a 200-mile mountain bike ride. All this and more as
Amateur Radio Newsline Number 2185 comes your way right now.
YL SETS RECORD, COMPLETING SOLO SAIL AROUND THE WORLD
JIM/ANCHOR: Our top story this week is a tale of personal
triumph. You may remember Newsline's interview last autumn with
the YL sailing solo around the world hoping to set a new record.
Well, she did it. Here's John Williams VK4JJW with her story.
JOHN: Jeanne {pronounced "JAN"} Socrates VE0JS {V E ZERO J S}
sailed jubilantly into Victoria, British Columbia past the Ogden
Point breakwater, on Saturday September 7th, ending her 339-day
journey and beginning her new status as record-holder: Jeanne
{pronounced "Jan"}, who is 77, has become the oldest person to
sail solo around the world, nonstop and unassisted. During the
journey that began on October 3rd 2018, the retired university
mathematics professor made hundreds of QSOs on HF and blogged
about her daily challenges and activities. In November of last
year she spoke to Newsline from her vessel when it was north of
Ducie Island and enroute to New Zealand and Australia by way of
Cape Horn.
Sea swells, two cyclones and equipment malfunctions were
formidable but temporary obstacles and she savoured her four
months later than planned arrival home - all the more because of
them."
Jeanne {"Jan"}, who has been sailing since the age of 48, beat
the record previously held by Minoru Saito {pronounced: "Min-Norr-Ooo
Sight-O"}, a Japanese yachtsman who was 71 when he accomplished
the challenging circumnavigation in 2005. Jeanne {"Jan"} already
captured the record in 2013 for being the oldest woman to
complete the voyage.
INDIA'S CRASHED LUNAR LANDER LOCATED
JIM/ANCHOR: India's space agency has located the lander from its
failed lunar mission. Jason Daniels VK2LAW has been following
that story.
JASON: India's crashed Vikram (VICK-RUM) lunar lander, part of
the nation's failed Chandrayaan-2 {pronounced CHONDRA-YON}
mission, was located on the lunar surface, according to reports
from the Indian Space and Research Organisation, or ISRO. ISRO
reported that it was attempting to make contact with the lander,
which had been photographed via thermal image from the orbiter.
The mission had entered lunar orbit on August 20th and its
lander separated on September 2nd to prep for its eventual
descent. The goal was to make a soft landing and deploy a
robotic lunar rover to search for water near the south pole of
the moon.
The space agency said, however, that communications were lost at
the last minute. Officials said the spacecraft had a normal
descent until about 2 km, or 1.2 miles, from the surface of the
moon.
The mission was considered the agency's most complex to date.
Officials said the orbiter will continue to study the moon from
a distance.
A successful landing would have made India the fourth nation to
achieve a lunar landing, after the United States, the former
Soviet Union and China. India has said it hopes to send a trio
of astronauts into space by 2022.
AMATEUR DUO ACTIVATING RARE GRID VIA SATELLITE
JIM/ANCHOR: Ever wanted to work a rare and challenging grid -
via satellite, no less? Now you can! Neil Rapp WB9VPG has those
details.
NEIL: One of the most challenging grids in which to make a
satellite contact is going to be activated on the 22nd of
September by a team of hams on a boat anchored off San Clemente
Island near southern California. This is grid DM Zero Two
(DM02).
Alex, N7AGF, and Ron, AD0DX, expect to be operating on FM and
Linear satellites for about 10 hours beginning at 1000 UTC,
which is 3 in the morning, local time. Ron wrote on QR Zed dot
com that the duo will be on the boat for 22 hours and that the
activation is, of course, weather-dependent. They will be using
the call sign En Six Oh slash Em Em {N6O/mm.}
Ron wrote on QR Zed that "D M Zero Two is one of the more
difficult grids to make a satellite contact in because the only
land mass in the grid is San Clemente Island, which is a
restricted U.S. Naval base." Ron said the last amateur to
activate the grid was Mike W8LID, who accomplished it in June of
2017. He said the two hams were able to benefit from some
guidance Mike provided before they set out on their journey. The
pair write that it is costing them $2,500 for use of the boat
and they have been accepting donations. Information is on the
N6O (En Six Oh) page on QR Zed dot com.
DUTCH RADIO UNION REPLACING DISCONTINUED GROUP
JIM/ANCHOR: A new day dawns for a new radio union in The
Netherlands. Jeremy Boot G4NJH tells us more.
JEREMY: The Dutch Kingdom Amateur Radio Society has been
dissolved. The new Dutch Amateur Radio Union (DARU) is now about
to replace the five-year-old foundation and according to various
reports, it is to carry forward its predecessor's objectives.
The Dutch Kingdom group was discontinued in June in preparation
for its replacement. The Netherlands Antenna Placement Support
Office had functioned under it, but now will operate as a part
of the new radio union. DARU said on its website, in
translation: {quote} "This is a fantastic and important step for
the future that we can all be proud of." {endquote}
It also noted that, despite earlier reports to the contrary,
paid-up donors to the foundation during 2019 will not be
required to pay additional fees to the new organisation until
the 31st of December 2020.
PACT ASSURES HAMVENTION'S HOME FOR NEXT 5 YEARS
JIM/ANCHOR: There some good news for Hamvention fans who've
begun to settle in each May at the Greene County Fairgrounds.
Jack Parker W8ISH has that story.
JACK: Dayton Hamvention isn't likely to be going anywhere
anytime soon: The Dayton Daily News reports that Greene County,
Ohio's fair board has reached an agreement with organizers to
keep the massive amateur radio gathering at the Greene County
Fairgrounds and Exposition Center in Xenia for the next five
years. The announcement comes on the heels of word that
Hamvention drew 32,472 attendees earlier this past spring, a
total considered the highest since the event relocated from its
longtime home at Hara Arena. The first Hamvention at the Greene
County Fairgrounds was held in 2017. Ron Cramer KD8ENJ,
president of the Dayton Amateur Radio Association, has said in
the past that the event's annual economic impact on the region
is between $15 million and $18 million. Kathleen Wright,
executive director of the Greene County Convention and Visitors
Bureau, told the Dayton Daily News that with continued growth
expected for Hamvention and more hotel rooms becoming available,
even more attendees can be accommodated in the years ahead.
CQ MAGAZINE TAPS FLORIDA HAM AS AWARDS EDITOR
JIM D/ANCHOR: A well-traveled longtime ham radio operator has
just added a new role to his resume: magazine awards editor.
Heather Embee KB3 T ZED D has that story.
HEATHER: CQ Amateur Radio magazine has named Eddie De Young,
AE7AA, of Clearwater, Florida, as its awards editor, beginning
with its September issue, where his first column appears. Eddie
became a licensed radio amateur in 1954 and since that time has
held more than 24 call signs. He notes on his QR Zed page that
he worked his first DX in 1956, making a successful contact with
VQ6LQ. He received his fisrt ARRL DXCC Award in 1966 while he
held the call sign K6CAA. Eddie is a former awards manager for
the Wireless Institute of Australia. Australia is among the
nearly dozen countries he has lived in over the years. He
succeeds Ted Melinosky K1BV as CQ's awards editor.
GET READY FOR PEORIA'S SUPERFEST
JIM/ANCHOR: There are big doings in Peoria, Illinois on the 21st
and 22nd of September. It's the Peoria Superfest, marking the
100th birthday of the Peoria-Area Amateur Radio Club. Someone
else is also celebrating a birthday, but not his hundredth:
Newsline's own Don Wilbanks AE5DW. You can meet Newsline's Young
Ham of the Year Dhruv Rebba KC9ZJX and Joe Eisenberg K0NEB, CQ
Magazine's kit editor, will be conducting a kit build while
Craig Thompson K9CT will discuss his upcoming Pitcairn Island
DXpedition. For more details, visit w9uvi dot og (w9uvi.org).
TIME FOR 'FALL OUT' WITH 100 WATTS AND A WIRE
JIM/ANCHOR: If you're in a part of the world welcoming autumn's
cooler temperatures, why not take your rig outside and enjoy the
break from the heat? Kevin Trotman N5PRE tells us how.
KEVIN: Amateur radio knows many seasons and here in the U.S.,
the season that is almost upon us is the Fall Out Season. It
gets its name from the third annual Fall Out event being held by
the 100 Watts and a Wire podcast from the 11th through to the
13th of October. The podcast's host and creator, Christian
Cudnik K0STH, told Newsline that this is the season for hams to
get outdoors and exercise their bodies as well as their gear
before the cold temperatures arrive and force everyone here in
the U.S. into the warmth of their QTH. If you're into SOTA, POTA
and IOTA, why not activate for those awards and then "double
dip" by making it a Fall Out event too?
While this isn't a contest, there are prizes for participants
who earn 25 points for contacts with some of the "special ops" -
with each operator worth 5 points.
If you were listening this past week to the 100 Watts and a Wire
podcast you probably heard Christian announce the details. You
can also visit the website at 100wattsandawire dot com slash
activities (100wattsandawire.com/activities). While you're there
you can also subscribe to the podcast.
MARKING 75 YEARS OF VOA'S BETHANY RELAY STATION
JIM/ANCHOR: The Voice of America's Bethany Relay station will be
celebrating its 75th anniversary as hams from the West Chester
Amateur Radio Association WC8VOA get on the air. Be listening on
September 21st from 1500 to 2200 UTC on the HF bands for
operators callling QRZ on SSB, FT8 and possibly CW. Certificates
will be available a few days after the event, downloadable from
the club's website wc8voa dot org (wc8voa.org)
(JOCELYN BRAULT KD8VRX/VA2VRX)
SILENT KEY: ARRL and IARU President Emeritus Larry Price, W4RA
JIM/ANCHOR: A lifelong radio amateur who held major roles in
both the ARRL and the International Amateur Radio Union has
become a Silent Key. IARU president emeritus Larry Price, W4RA,
was also an ARRL Life Member and a former ARRL vice president
and first vice president before ascending to the organization's
presidency. As president, he served four two-year terms. At the
same time he was also secretary of the IARU, eventually becoming
its president for a decade, starting in 1999. He also helped
incorporate the ARRL Foundation.
The Arkansas native, first licensed as a ham at 16, died on
September 10th. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Army Signal
Corps.
Larry Price was 85.
(ARRL)
SILENT KEY: CUSHCRAFT ANTENNA'S GLEN WHITEHOUSE K1GW
JIM/ANCHOR: The former president of the Cushcraft Antenna
Company also has become a Silent Key.
Glen Whitehouse, K1GW, was considered an innovator as well as a
businessman. The North Carolina resident, who served in the U.S.
Air Force during the Vietnam War, died on the 5th of September
of cancer.
The DXCC Honor Roll member and officer of the Yankee Clipper
Contest Club left his mark on the Cushcraft Antenna Company
after arriving there from G.R. Whitehouse & Company, which
provided components for tuners and high-power amplifiers. Under
Glen's leadership, Cushcraft launched the VHF/UHF Yagi "Boomer"
line as well as the Skywalker X-7 and X-9 tribanders. A New
Englander by birth, the Maine native retired to North Carolina
after having lived for a time in Amherst New Hampshire. In a
posting on eham dot net, friends remembered him for his sense of
humor and his eagerness to learn new things in software
programming. He was the creator of a number of SDR home brew
radios. He had been a radio amateur for more than 60 years.
Glen Whitehouse was 76.
(EHAM.NET)
SILENT KEY: JAPAN AMATEUR RADIO LEAGUE'S HISAO SHONO JA1AA
JIM/ANCHOR: And...a prominent longtime influencer in amateur
radio in Japan has become a Silent Key. Hisao {pronounced hee-sow}
Shono JA1AA, who died on the 19th of August, had served for two
terms as the vice chair of the Japan Amateur Radio League, the
national member society. The longtime amateur got his first
license in 1938 with the call sign J2IB. He was granted his last
call sign JA1AA in 1952 after amateur radio was permitted again
in Japan - and was, in fact, the first of the nation's hams to
be re-licensed. He particularly enjoyed QRP operating as well as
DXing.
Shono was 100.
(ARRL)
WORLD OF DX
In the world of DX, listen for Operators Yuris YL2GM, Jack
YL2KA, Kaspars YL1ZF and Kristers YL3JA operating as C21WW from
Nauru from September 16th through to the 25th. Listen on 160-6
metres and possibly 60. They will be using CW, SSB, RTTY and
FT8. FT8 will be Fox & Hound mode. The team will always use
split operation. QSL direct to YL2GN or by ClubLog.
Be listening now through the 30th of September for the special
event call sign 9M16KING (NINE-EM-SIXTEEN KING) from Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia. Operators are celebrating the 16th
constitutional monarch and head of state. Make your contacts on
80 through 10 metres using CW, SSB and various digital modes.
QSL information is on the QRZ dot com page.
Chip KB1QU is operating from Ghana as 9G5QU until the 21st of
September. Listen on 40/30/20 metres where he will be using CW,
FT8 and
FT4. QSL direct to N4GNR.
In Malta, Klaus, DL7 OH OH (DL7OO) will be using the call sign
9H3GK between the 29th of September and the 6th of October. He
will be on various HF bands holiday style, most likely 80, 40
and 20 metres, SSB. Send QSLs to DL700 by the Bureau.
(OHIO PENN DX)
KICKER: AT CYCLING EVENT, HAMS TAKE ON MOUNTAINS OF
RESPONSIBILITY
JIM/ANCHOR: Just as we began this week's newscast with the story
of a journey, we end our report with another journey. This one
stretches 206 miles, reaches elevations as high as 10,000 feet
and involves more than 1,700 cyclists and 135 hams from four
states. Mike Askins KE5CXP picks up the story from here.
MIKE: The Logan to Jackson Bicycle Race in Utah, also known as
LoToJa, is the longest one-day cycling event in North America to
be sanctioned by the U.S. Cycling Federation. For the scores of
hams providing communications assistance, it has grown into the
longest day. According to Kevin Reeve N7RXE of the Bridgerland
Amateur Radio Club in Logan, Utah, the event that took place on
September 7th is both a race and a ride. It is also a prominent
fundraiser for a number of medical organizations and it is a
test of hams' emergency preparedness. Kevin said more than 40
percent of the race through the mountainous region is unserved
by cellphone communications. The terrain, which includes three
mountain passes, prevents cyclists' support crews from even
following them and so hams provide communications, first aid and
mechanical support to ensure safety as riders head from Logan
Utah to Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Kevin said: {quote} "It is a crazy day and event and we love
it." {end quote}
In fact, for the past six years, organizers have had no trouble
recruiting hams to sign up. Kevin said: {quote} "It pushes
amateur radio operators to the limit." {endquote} On that day,
it seems the sky - and hams' ability to help - is limitless.
(KEVIN REEVE N7RXE, CACHE VALLEY DAILY)
New England Hams
you might run across 75
meters.........
K1TP-
Jon....Editor of As The World
Turns....
KB1OWO-
Larry...Handsome Fellow
,Only cuts lawn in August, plows
snow the rest in Jackman, Maine
W1GEK-
Big Mike....Nearfest Cook, big
motor home, electronics software
engineer ...
AA1SB-
Neil...Living large traveling
the country with his
girlfriend...loves CW
N1YX-
Igor....peddles quality Russian
keys, software engineer
K1BGH...Art.....Restores
cars and radio gear, nice fella...
N1XW.....Mike-easy
going, Harley riding kind of
guy!
K1JEK-Joe...Easy going, can
be found at most ham flea market
...Cobra Antenna builder..
KA1GJU-
Kriss- Tower climbing pilot who
cooks on the side at
Hosstrader's...
W1GWU-Bob....one
of the Hosstrader's original
organizers, 75 meter regular,
Tech Wizard!!!
K1PV-
Roger....75 meter regular, easy
going guy...
W1XER...Scott....easy
going guy, loves to split
cordwood and hunt...
WS1D-
Warren- "Windy" - Bullnet
KB1VX-
Barry- the picture says it all,
he loves food!
KC1BBU-
Bob....the Mud Duck from the
Cape Cod Canal, making a lot of
noise.
W1STS- Scott...philosopher,
hat
connoisseur,
KB1JXU-
Matthew...75 meter regular...our
token liberal Democrat out of VT
KA1BXB-Don....75
meter Regular......residing on
the Cape of Cod, flying planes
and playing radio
KMIG-Rick....75
Meter Regular....teaches the
future of mankind, it's scary!
K1PEK-Steve..Founder
of Davis-RF....my best friend
from high school
K9AEN-John...Easy
going ham found at all the ham
fests
K1BXI- John.........Dr.
Linux....fine amateur radio op
....wealth of experience...
K1BQT.....Rick....very
talented ham, loves his
politics, has designed gear for
MFJ...
W1KQ- Jim- Retired
Air Force
Controller...told quite a few
pilots where to go!
N1OOL-Jeff-
The 3936 master plumber and
ragchewer...
K1BRS-Bruce-
Computer Tech of 3936...multi
talented kidney stone passing
ham...
K1BGH- Arthur, Cape Cod,
construction company/ice cream
shop, hard working man....
W1VAK-
Ed, Cape Cod, lots of experience
in all areas, once was a Jacques
Cousteus body guard....
K1BNH-
Bill- Used to work for a bottled
gas company-we think he has been
around nitrous oxide to long .
Silent KeyVA2GJB-
Graham...one of the good 14313
guys back in the day.
Silent Key
K1BHV-
David...PITA
Silent Key
W1JSH-
Mort...Air Force man
Silent Key
K1MAN--Glen....PITA
Silent KeyKB1CJG-"Cobby"-
Low key gent can be found on
many of the 75 meter
nets.........
Silent KeyWB1AAZ-
Mike, Antrim, NH, auto parts
truck driver-retired
Silent KeyWB1DVD-
Gil....Gilly..Gilmore.....easy
going, computer parts selling,
New England Ham..
Silent Key
W1OKQ-
Jack....3936 Wheeling and
Dealing......keeping the boys on
there toes....
Silent Key
W1TCS-
Terry....75 meter
regular, wealth of electronic
knowledge...
Silent Key
WIPNR-
Mack....DXCC Master, worked them
all!.. 3864 regular for many
years...
Silent Key
WILIM-
Hu....SK at 92... 3864
regular for many years...
Silent Key
N1SIE-
Dave....Loves to fly
Silent Key:N1WBD-
Big Bob- Tallest ham, at 6'10",
of the 3864 group
Silent Key:
W1FSK-Steve....Navy
Pilot, HRO Salesman, has owned
every radio ever built!
Silent Key:
W4NTI-Vietnam
Dan....far from easy going cw
and ssb op on 14275/313
Silent Key:K1FUB-Bill-
Loved ham radio.... |
